CSU University Relations wins second consecutive CASE awards

01 - 25

2018

Columbus State University’s alumni magazine garnered three new marketing and public relations awards by international organization Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) during the 2017-18 academic year.

University Relations’ publications specialist/editor Candace Dantes won Special Merit Awards in “Best Articles of the Year” and “Publications Writing” — first-time wins in these particular categories and a second consecutive CASE win for Dantes. The magazine editor previously won 2016-17’s Special Merit Award in “Magazine or Publication Rendering for Tablet of Mobile Technology.”

Team member and graphics specialist Joseph Melancon also won a Special Merit Award in “Illustration-Interior Spread,” which became a first-time win in this CASE category as well.

“It’s personal and professional validation to my work,” said Melancon, who has served as a visual artist in University Relations for the past five years. “I’m very hands-on with producing physical media that makes an impact. It’s more than a hobby, so for CASE to acknowledge my and Candace’s content together shows the future of where we can take marketing and public relations expression.”

Melancon and Dantes won in the Southeast District III CASE awards, which includes states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.

To complement Melancon’s artwork, Dantes interviewed and profiled four of CSU’s progressive alumni and entrepreneurs who have successfully applied their majors to build lucrative brands within Columbus’ redeveloped commercial and governmental sectors.

“Anytime we can capitalize on sharing university success stories using engaging visuals, we do,” said Dantes, who has served as editor for the past three years. “It’s rewarding to know CASE recognized our creativity to storytelling.”